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Today is the last in the present series from the archives of Norah Colvin which is actually reflections on learning by her daughter Bec, and written when she was 26 in 2013… so I am sure that her PhD in Environmental Management is being put to good use. Bec shares her early memories of being home schooled until enrolling in school in grade 4.

Reflections on Learning

In a previous post To school or not to school I explored some issues I was grappling with as my daughter reached school age. I stated then that in future posts I would explore the effects of decisions I made upon my children’s (and my) education.

My daughter, Bec, now 25 and working towards a PhD in Environmental Management at UQ, has beaten me to the post by writing the following reflections on her schooling experiences. Who better to explore the effects upon her education than she herself?

Bec’s reflections on learning

When I was a wee girl I felt I had a very prolonged ‘childhood’. Not that I became a (painful) teenager later than others, or even an adult later; but more that the early years went for longer for me than they did for others. While other children I knew were in school, wearing uniforms and filling in worksheets, I was on my way into the Brisbane library with my mother, excited about the new books I would get to read. (I always anticipated the craft activities which were on offer, and specifically recall excellent activities related to owls.)

I also remember that when most other children were in school, I got to play with clay at home, and used the clay to create ‘exhibits’ for a zoo about my favourite animal. It was a great motivation to find out as much as I could about the animal, and I immersed myself in it. I started with rabbits (which I still love though have a real ethical struggle with given they’re such a disastrous environmental pest here in Australia) and then moved onto the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo.

Another memory, from my very long childhood, was that when most other children were in school, I set up at home ‘The Rainforest Club’, where I made a desk, a rainforest-related library, and a membership program. What was the point of the club? Who knows – but the evidence is still present in a number of Norah’s books which include markings on the inner cover to the effect of ‘This belongs to the library of the Rainforest Club’.

I remember frequent trips to the Sciencentre when it was in its old digs on the other side of the river, and a day starting with picking strawberries at a local farm, then bringing them home to mix into home-made strawberry ice cream. I also remember being very proud of myself when I got to cartwheel in a parade at the ‘Out of the Box’ celebration at Southbank.

Then there was the day when an intimidatingly large cane toad launched toward me when I was sitting at the front of a group of children watching an engaging talk about animals (unlike the bunny rabbit, I am not quite so much torn between heart and mind about this invasive species, although increasingly it seems that the story of the cane toad in Australia reflects the story of post-1788 colonisation in Australia). A less traumatic animal experience was going on the ‘Batty Cruise’ down the Brisbane River as the macro bat colonies were stirring shortly after sunset. It was absolutely incredible – there were thousands of bats flying overhead – and an expert on board had a baby bat AND a baby echidna.

I also know Norah still has the story I wrote which explained all of the mysteries of neuroscience; “How the Brain Works”. Obviously, it’s a little man who lives in my brain, working efficiently with a series of filing cabinets.

What this little man didn’t work out at the time though – and only really worked through the files to figure out years later – was that despite not being at the time in School with a capital S, I was in school during every moment of the day and night during those early years. I LOVED visiting the library and the museum and the Sciencentre. I LOVED reading books, researching about animals, writing stories and experiencing my world.

There’s no evidence in my memories that I was ever actively Being Schooled – I remember playing, spending time with my mother, going on fun day trips, and being creative. All of this, as far as I knew, without a formal lesson plan presented to me in the morning, without worksheets to complete (though I did spend a lot of time writing for fun – can you imagine such a thing?), without testing which would give me a reductive and quantitative measure of my intellect, abilities, and ranking against other children.

I started School with a capital S in grade 4, which was very hard to begin with. The decisions which led to my enrolment in a School are absent from my memories of the time, but I think I remember that I wanted to be with other children. It makes me sad to think back on this, because I worry that as a child knowing nothing but my own life as the basis for all of my understandings about the world, that perhaps I didn’t appreciate Norah enough, and maybe I hurt her feelings when I wanted to be with other children.

When I started School, I have a vivid and poignant memory on the first or second day being given a worksheet with no idea about how to complete it, as it was such a foreign concept. I felt out of my depth and incapable of fitting in, and I was upset. It took a little while to make friends (which resulted in a number of lonely lunch breaks), but once I did I was happy. I enjoyed most of the school work, and as far as I am aware my schooling experience from that point on was no more extraordinary than that of any other child at a state School. I missed being with Norah during the day but I was lucky that she was involved as a parent helper in my class, and then had a teaching position at my School.

So there is no dramatic end to the story – I was home educated and then I went to a School. I find this difficult to explain, but as a child, there is no other life that I knew. So it didn’t feel like my home education years were cut short by going to School, nor did it feel like I was starting School late (though I was aware that I was a bit different in terms of my schooling). Now as an adult and with hindsight, I am very thankful for the gift of home education that Norah gave me. (I am also proud to know that I was a bit different in terms of my schooling.)

I would like to offer some evidence of the impact that being home educated has had on my life, but I am not sure how to do this, after all, I’m the experiment and there’s no control for comparison. I can, however, say that I loved my childhood and I still have a very strong and driving love of learning.

I am an experienced and passionate educator. I teach. I write. I create.

I have spent almost all my life thinking and learning about thinking and learning.

I have been involved in many educational roles, both in and out of formal schooling situations, always combining my love of teaching and writing by creating original materials to support children’s learning.

Now as I step away from the classroom again, I embark upon my latest iteration: sharing my thoughts about education by challenging what exists while asking what could be; and inviting early childhood educators to support children’s learning through use of my original teaching materials which are now available on my website http://www.readilearn.com.au

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About Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

My name is Sally Cronin and I am doing what I love.. Writing. Books, short stories, Haiku and blog posts. My previous jobs are only relevant in as much as they have gifted me with a wonderful filing cabinet of memories and experiences which are very useful when putting pen to paper. I move between non-fiction health books and posts and fairy stories, romance and humour. I love variety which is why I called my blog Smorgasbord Invitation and you will find a wide range of subjects. You can find the whole story here.
Find out more at https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/about-me/

How fabulous! Nothing more gratifying to a mother than being thanked for giving her daughter a wonderful, educational, childhood. Truly a story to be treasured Norah! And loved the beautiful scrapbook! ❤ 🙂

Thank you, Debby. I hadn’t read this post for a while, and it gave me a lot of pleasure to do so. Bec is very successful in all she does and I hope that some of it is attributed to the start I gave her. She is very determined and organised though, so most of it is a result of her dedication and hard work. I think what I find most gratifying is her big heart, warm spirit and positive contribution she is making to our world.

It’s great that you home educated Bec, Norah. We have a large group of home-school parents in our city. The parents teach the basic subjects at home, but have group activities for their children. What you did was very precious to Bec because Kindergarten to third grade lays a foundation for kids’ life learning. I love Bec’s scrap book.

Thank you for your kind words, Miriam. I loved having the time with Bec (and her older brother Rob – though, sadly he started school at the ‘appropriate’ age).
Time spent in the company of young children is pure joy, a gift to be treasured. I always felt it a privilege to share the learning journey with young children in my classrooms, and love spending time now with my grandchildren. I think time with young children is one of life greatest pleasures, of which there can never be too much. 🙂

Little ones aren’t called ‘bundles of joy’ for nothing, eh, Miriam? xx
Thank you for noticing my absence, Miriam, and apologies. I have been struck down by the flu since last Friday (over six days now) and am only just starting to find my way back to the computer. I don’t last long but I want to respond to as many of the wonderful comments as I can before too much more time gets away. I think I’m on the mend, but still a way to go.

I’m sorry to hear you were sick for that long, Miriam. It is difficult to fight off the bugs when your system is already down. I think I’m probably not doing too badly. It’s day eight for me and I think I’m beginning to feel better – still the niggle of a cough though.

I went to the urgent care because making an appointment to see a doctor would take too long. The doctor at the urgent care said the flue runs through 10 days by itself. He gave me med prescription but asked me to wait for 10 days to take it. I never took the med and decided to let it went through the cycle.

It was really interesting to read your daughter’s thoughts on her education, Norah. I started school at 5 in a convent and don’t recall there being any options of home schooling in those days. I don’t know anyone from my generation who was home schooled. I do know lots of people who home school now though.

Thanks Robbie… not something that was ever very common in the UK but I do think there are more children now and they have recently brought in regulation of course…. to ensure that the child is receiving a balanced education. xx

I think a lot of the books I read about education alternatives were written by Americans. Though perhaps the most famous and first ‘free’ school was A.S. Neill’s Summerhill in Suffolk, which he documented. I’m not sure how that translates to homeschooling as such, but it is an alternative approach to the traditional. Perhaps homeschooling has always been there, but maybe people were quieter about it; possibly for fear of the authorities or for being considered ‘other’.

Thanks, Robbie. I’m pleased you enjoyed reading Bec’s thoughts. I think I first read about deschooling and unschooling when my son Robert was about two (he’s 12 years older than Bec). I’d left teaching pretty unhappy with the system and decided I wouldn’t go back so explored options, but more for me than for him. Before he was of school age, I did some further study into literacy education which made everything make sense to me. It fitted perfectly with my philosophy and beliefs about children and learning so I was rearing to get back to work and put my ideas into practice when he started school. It was my dissatisfaction with much of what he was offered (in comparison to what I was offering other people’s children) that led me to the decision about not sending Bec to school. However, my intention wasn’t to home educate her as such, but to set up an alternative to school. It almost worked – but that’s another story. I did become involved with a lot of other home educating (most home schooling – I see a difference) parents at the time. People have all sorts of reasons for not sending their children to school. I think it’s a very valid choice, but only when it’s in the best interests of the children. Of course, what that means can be contentious too.

Given the right teacher – obviously you Nora – and the right pupil, what a wonderful way to start .learning about the world. It seems to have fuelled a natural curiosity and must have been fulfilling for both mother and daughter. There weren’t many “home teachers” when I was young and world war 11 interrupted my school-days (and how!), but there seem to be more around now. Thanks Sally. Hugs xx

Thank you for your kind words, Joy. Bec and I did both enjoy the experience. I think I learned as much about learning as she did. I’ve always said that my children were my best teachers. It would be interesting to know about your school days and World War II, Joy. I’d love to include an interview with you in my school days reminiscences series, if you are interested. https://norahcolvin.com/2019/04/14/school-days-reminiscences-of-debby-gies-d-g-kaye/

Thank you, Michael. It was a great pleasure and an honour and an experience I’m pleased I was bold enough to take. I knew no others who were keeping their children out of school at the time. Sometimes I’m surprised at my courage. 🙂

Reblogged this on Norah Colvin and commented:
I’m over at Sally Cronin’s wonderful blog again this week, sharing another post from my family archives. However, this time the post author is my wonderful daughter who shares her thoughts on being home educated. We’d all love it if you popped over to read and share your thoughts.